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NASCAR Sprint Cup Series “AAA Texas 500”

Carl Edwards wins at Texas

Carl Edwards applied the brakes to Joe Gibbs Racing’s post-season winless streak Sunday night at Texas Motor Speedway in the AAA Texas 500, getting a lightning-fast pit stop from his crew and a timely shower from “Mother Nature” to claim victory and secure a spot in the championship race later this month in Miami. As an organization, J-G-R’s four drivers – Edwards, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Matt Kenseth – combined to win 11 of the 26 regular-season races but were 0 for 7 in this year’s Chase heading into Sunday’s race.

Rain delayed the start from afternoon to evening and then stopped the race 41 laps short of its scheduled distance. In between, Joey Logano and Martin Truex Jr. combined to lead 244 laps. But Edwards’ pit crew gave him four fresh tires and fuel in under 12 seconds on their final stop of the night less than 40 laps from the finish. The #19 Toyota was the first car off pit road and it stayed in front the rest of the way to give Edwards his 28th career victory and 4th on the Fort Worth oval.

Logano grabbed 2nd place after leading a race-high 178 laps. Truex was 3rd with rookie Chase Elliott and Busch – the #1 seed in the Chase – completing the top 5. Pole sitter Austin Dillon led just 6 laps and was sidelined by an accident late in the race, finishing 37th in the 40-car field.

With the victory, Edwards joins Jimmie Johnson as the first two drivers to clinch berths in The Championship 4. The six other title contenders will be vying for two remaining spots next weekend at Phoenix International Raceway.

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– story by John Singler
www.mrn.com
Concord, NC

Click for The Chase for the Sprint Cup Grid

 

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